Frost protection method and means for orchards



Jan. 25, 1966 A. M. SINNER 3,230,667

FROST PROTECTION METHOD AND MEANS FOR ORCHARDS Filed April 5, 1962 4Sheets-Sheet 1 ALEX M. SINNER INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY A. M. SINNER Jan. 25, 1966 FROST PROTECTION METHOD AND MEANSFOR ORCHARDS Filed April 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG FIG

INVENTOR. ex M. SINNER ATTORNEY FIG Jan. 25, 1966 A. M. SINNER 3,230,667

Filed April 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet s FIG ALEX M. SINNER INVENTOR.

BY W

ATTORNEY Jan. 25, 1966 A. M. SINNER 3,230,667

FROST PROTECTION METHOD AND MEANS FOR ORCHARDS Filed April 5, 1962 4Sheets-Sheet 4 ALEX M. SINNER INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,230,667 FROST PROTECTION METHOD ANDMEANS FOR ORCHARDS Alex M. Sinner, Box 508, Sunnyside, Wash. Filed Apr.3, 1962, Ser. No. 184,829 8 Claims. (Cl. 472) This present inventionrelates to the general art of devices intended to protect growing cropsfrom the effects of frost. This equipment implements a method fordirecting the flow of air at a low level, especially through orchardsand the like. Louver means are employed to give variable control for thedirection of air and a portion of this directed air may be passedthrough a heating device of the oil burning type. The direction of airflow is controlled by swinging the burner units and the louvers ascoacting units so as to provide the airflow pattern required. The unitsare portable in the sense that they are provided with skids and may betowed to various locations or be carried thereto by a fork liftarrangement.

In the past it has been found that many times an orchard crop,particularly, can be saved from freezing especially during the buddingperiod by causing air to circulate through the orchard and whentemperature drop is great additional heat needs may be supplied. In mypresent equipment I provide a sizable fuel tank which is connected tooil burners. Adjacent one end of the fuel storage tank is a prime mover,normally an air-cooled gasoline engine, directly connected to apropeller type of fan. This fan unit is preferably fixed in position asdistinguished from many of the oscillating fans formerly used in thisservice. The output of the fan is preferably directed into two louverarrangements which are pivotably mounted so that the air stream from thefan may be divided, thus making it possible to cover an area of veryappreciable extent. The fuel tank, oil burners, prime mover, fan andlouvers are all mounted on a common sled for ease in moving thisequipment from place to place as needed.

The constant air flow provided by this unit makes it possible to set alarge amount of air in continuous motion thereby covering a much largerarea than is possible with the oscillating fans previously used.Auxiliary to the fan and louver arrangement is a plurality of burnerunits drawing their fuel from the large fuel tank and with the axis ofprojection of the burners, which are provided with a cylindricalhousing, adjustable so that the heated air is normally projectedsubstantially in the center of the air stream directed by the adjustablelouvers. As a matter of convenience, the burners and associated louverunits are preferably pivotably mounted in coacting pairs on the samepivot means.

A principal object of my present invention, therefore is to provide amethod of air flow control which will direct air which has been startedin motion so that it will quite uniformly cover a relatively large area.

A further object of this invention is to provide airflow diverters sopositioned as to create a fan shaped pattern of moving air.

A further object of this invention is to provide for a continuous thrustto effect a continuous movement of air over a relatively large area andto provide louvers which direct the air flow for any one setting and arefurther arranged so that they are adjustable to provide an air flowpattern to suit the needs of the area being covered.

A further object of this invention is to provide portable power drivenbooster fans which may be employed to correct an airflow pattern,particularly to meet the reice quirements of the topography of anorchard, for example, thus making it possible to continue the movementof air previously started in motion.

A further object of this invention is to provide burners or air heaterswhich can be employed to raise the temperature of the air beingcirculated through an orchard or other crop planting.

A further object is to provide means whereby the flow of air through anorchard can be controlled to keep the air flow at a low level so thatnormally the only air in motion is that which will pass through thetrees to be protected.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from thedisclosure in the drawings or may be comprehended or are inherent in thedevice.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a typical air handling unit made afterthe teachings of this present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the equipment shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the front end of theunit of FIGURE 1 and illustrating how the louvers and the burners can bepivoted as coacting units so as to divide the air stream and thusgreatly increase its width.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the equipment of FIGURE 1, shown on areduced scale.

FIGURE 6 is a typical plan view showing the use of my present equipmentand how it is employed to produce a controlled air flow over arelatively large area.

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a preferred method ofemploying my equipment so as to keep the flow of air close to the groundso that it will pass through the trees to be protected, giving them themaximum protection with the minimum movement of air.

FIGURE 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale,showing the nozzle of the oil burner and certain associated parts.

FIGURE 9 is a front view, in elevation, of the burner assembly on anincreased scale over the showing of FIG- URES 1,12 and 3.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference charactersindicate like parts, the numeral 10 indicates generally a completecoacting unit and 11 designates the sled upon which I propose to mountmy equipment so as to make it a unitary structure. This sled is providedwith the spaced-apart runners, 12 and 13. Fixedly positioned on sled 11is the fuel tank 14. This tank must be of suflicient size so as tosupply fuel to the burners 15 and 16 for several hours; usually tankagein excess of gallons will be desirable. Fixedly mounted, as on brackets18, is the air-cooled motor 20 and to this is directly connected theairplane type propeller fan 22. A suitable open work shield 23 isemployed around the whirling propeller as a protection to the operatingpersonnel.

A separate fuel tank 24 is provided for the fan motor. Disposed in frontof fan 22 and pivotably supported from the built-up framework 26 is thesecondary framework 27. This framework is made in two separate units,each of which supports, as a unit, one of the burners as 15 or 16 andone of the louver units as 28 or 29.

A typical section through one of the louver units is illustrated inFIGURE 4. These units are made up of a plurality of vertically disposedstrips secured together as a group. Each strip 30 provides an airguiding surface 31 for impingement of the air from fan 22 and on theedge adjacent the fan, a deflector element 32 is provided forredirecting the air flow. This arrangement gives complete control of thedirection of the air flow as the axis of along J the louve'r unitanditscoacting oil burner 15 or 16 is changed with respect to the axisof rotation of fan 22. The air flow from fan 22 may be in the directionindicated by arrow 33 as one limit or the direction indicated by arrow33a as the other limit. These louver units are easily detachable forrepairs or particularly for replacemerit with other louvers of differentconfigurations in order to more fully adapt this equipment to thetopography of the orchard where it is to be used. Bolts pass through theopenings 34' in mounting plate 34A so that the changes can be readilymade. Referring to FIGURES 2, 3 and 5, the showing of FIGURES 2 and showthe burners and 16 as being disposed parallel to the sled 10. In FIGURE3, however, the extreme pivoted position of the burners and louvers isillustrated, the same being pivoted about their individual pivots 35 and36. Obviously the burners 15 and 16 are connected to fuel tank 14" byflexible conduits or lines to permit said burners to be turned on theirlongitudinal axis, as indicated, for instance, in FIGURE 3.

METHOD OF USE Referring to FIGURE 6, I have illustrated a sizableorchard area and have given actual dimensions on the same so as toclarify the arrangement. However, the exact placing of the equipment andthe areas indicated as covered should be only considered as a suggestedunit layout. This plan is based upon the use of two or more of the unitsas illustrated in FIGURE 1 and which are indicated generally in thediagram by the reference character 10. In this arrangement the burnersand louvers would be pivoted after the showing of FIGURE 3 so that therewould be two divergent streams of air set in motion such as aresuggested by the diagonal arrows 40, 42 and 44, 46.

In order to insure a continuity of movement of the air in the planindicated, three booster units consisting of a fan 22 and motor mountedfor individual use on their own framework are indicated by the referencecharacter 50. It will be noted that the suggested units are at theapexes of the air flow arrows as for instance 42- and 44.

Referring to FIGURE 7, a burner and fan unit 10 is positioned at onemargin of the orchard, and naturally on the side from which theprevailing wind is coming. About midway in the diagram as given, thebooster element 50 is positioned.

The sequence in which it is recommended that these units be startedis'substantially as follows:

Fan is started which sets up a cold air flow.

Burner B is started 30 minutes after fan A, introducing moisture intothe air flow created by fan A. These small droplets, finer than mist,being moisture laden and a good heat carrier, start to slowly rise, asshown by curved line. They are then pulled back down by the faninfluence in the area of C, to be again released at below tree level toslowly start to rise again between points A and D. In the course of thistravel millions of these small droplets will have settled on the budswhere they are slowly transformed into slush ice as the heat from themoisture is absorbed by the bud. i

Referring to FIGURES 8 and 9 in which an oil burner is illustrated, theburner is axially positioned in one end of a cylindrical flameprojecting tube 16. Tube 16 is secured to the frame 27 which is pivotedfor limited rotation on a vertical axis. The burner nozzle 70 is axiallydisposed in tube 16 and is provided with flexible fuel supply line 62drawing oil from tank 14 and a replaceable tip 64. The body of nozzle 60is threadedly engaged in a supporting plate 65 and may be adjustablysecured in position by lock nut 66. Plate 65 is supported from an inserttruncated cone 68 by a plurality of angle support members 70. Shims 72are provided between the angle members and cone 68 so adjustable arcuateair supply openings 74 will be formed between each of the angle members.A plurality of additional air supply openings 76 are provided in cone68.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the abovedescription and the disclosure in the drawings that the inventioncomprehends a novel frost protection method and means for orchards.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A frost protective device for orchards, comprising:

(a) a sled for combining the various elements of said protective devicein one unitary group;

(b) a fixedly mounted motor;

(0) an air fan mounted for revolution by said motor;

(d) a plurality of secondary frames pivotedly secured to said sled;

(e) an air directing louver unit removably secured to each of saidsecondary frames and positioned in the air stream'created by said fan;

(h) said louver units each having a plurality of vertical strips, eachwith a curved deflector on the edge adjacent said fan and a tangent airdirecting portion secured to said deflector and leading away from saidfan;

(f) an oil burner secured to each of said secondary frames andpositioned substantially centrally of the air stream directed by thelouver unit mounted on the same secondary frame, and- (g) a fuel oiltank of substantial size fixedly mounted on said sled and provided withsupply lines, one of which is connected to'each of said burners byflexible means permitting theturning of the longitudinal axis of theburners with respect to said tank.

2. A frost protective device for orchards, comprising? (a) a sled forcombining the various elements of said protective device in one unitarygroup;

(b) a fixedly mounted motor;

(0) a propeller type fan mounted for revolution by said motor;

(d) a plurality of secondary frames pivotably secured to said sled;

(i) an air directing louver unit removably secured to each of saidsecondary frames and positioned in the air stream created by said fanand its motor;

(j) an oil burner secured to each ofsaid secondary frames and positionedsubstantially centrally transversely of the air stream and below thecenter of the same vertically of said stream and directed by the louverunit mounted on the same secondary frame and (g) a fuel oil tank ofsubstantial size fixedly mounted on said sled and provided with supplylines, one of which is connected to each of said burners by flexiblemeans permitting the turning of the longitudinal axis of the burnerswith respect to said tank.

3. A frost protective device for orchards, comprising:

(a) a sled for combining the various elements of said protective devicein one unitary group;

(b) a fixedly mounted motor;

(c) a propeller type fan mounted for revolution by said motor;

(d) a plurality of secondary frames pivotally secured? to said sled;

(e) an air directing louver unit removably secured! to each of saidsecondary frames and positioned in the air stream created by said fanand its revolving;

motor; I

(f) an oil burner secured to each of said secondary frames andpositioned substantially centrally of the air stream directed by thelouver unit mounted on the same secondary frame;

(k) said oil burners having a cylindrical frame projecting tube, atruncated cone peripherally secured in one end of said tube with itssmall end extending into said tube, said cone having a plurality of airsupply openings in its surface, and

(g) a fuel oil tank of substantial size fixedly mounted on said sled andprovided with supply lines, one of which is connected to each of saidburners by flexible means permitting the turning of the longitudinalaxis of the burner with respect to said tank.

4. A frost protective device for orchards, comprising:

(a) a sled for combining the various elements of said protective devicein one unitary group;

(b) a fixedly mounted motor;

() a propeller type fan mounted for revolution by said motor;

(d) a plurality of secondary frames pivotably secured to said sled;

(e) an air directing louver unit removably secured to each of saidsecondary frames and positioned in the air stream created by said fanand its revolving motor;

(f) an oil burner secured to each of said secondary frames andpositioned substantially centrally of the air stream directed by thelouver unit mounted on the same secondary frame;

(k) said oil burners having a cylindrical flame projecting tube, atruncated cone peripherally secured in one end of said tube with itssmall end extending into said tube, said cone having a plurality of airsupply openings in its surface;

(1) a plurality of angle support members secured inside said truncatedcone, a supporting plate secured to said support members and spacedtherefrom by shims thus forming a plurality of arcuate air supplyopenings concentric with said projecting tube and an axially disposedburner nozzle adjustably positioned longitudinally in said supportingplate, and

(g) a fuel oil tank of substantial size fixedly mounted on said sled andprovided with supply lines, one of which is connected to each of saidburners by flexible means permitting the turning of the longitudinalaxis of the burners with respect to said tank.

5. A frost protecting device for orchards, comprising:

(a) a sled combining the various elements of said protective device inone unitary group;

(b) a fixedly mounted motor located on said sled;

(c) an air fan mounted forward of and for revolution by said motor;

(d) a pair of secondary frames pivotably secured to said sled forward ofsaid fan in generally side-by-side relationship;

(e) an air directing louver unit removably secured to each of saidsecondary frames on the end of said secondary frames nearest said fanand positioned in the air stream created by said fan;

(f) an oil burner secured to each of said secondary frames forward ofits respective louver unit and positioned substantially centrally of theair stream directed by the louver unit mounted on the same secondaryframe; and

(g) a fuel oil tank of substantial size fixedly mounted on said sledrearward of said motor and provided with supply lines, one of which isconnected to each of said burners by flexible means permitting theturning of the longitudinal axis of the burners with respect to saidtank.

6. A frost protective device for orchards, comprising:

(a) a sled for combining the various elements of said protective devicein one unitary group;

(b) a fixedly mounted motor located on said sled;

(c) an air fan mounted forward of and connected for revolution by saidmotor;

(d) a pair of secondary frames pivotably secured to said sled forward ofsaid fan in generally side-byside relationship;

(e) an air directing louver unit removably secured to each of saidsecondary frames on the end of said secondary frames nearest said fanand positioned in the air stream created by said fan;

(f) said louver units each having a plurality of vertical strips, eachwith a curved deflector on the edge adjacent said fan and a tangent airdirecting portion secured to said deflector and leading away from saidfan;

(g) an oil burner secured to each of said secondary frames forward ofits respective louver unit and positioned substantially centrally of theair stream directed by the louver unit mounted on the same secondaryframe; and

(h) a fuel oil tank of substantial size fixedly mounted on said sledrearward of said motor and provided with supply lines, one of which isconnected to each of said burners by flexible means permitting theturning of the longitudinal axis of the burners with respect to saidtank.

7. A frost protective device for orchards, comprising:

(a) a sled for combining the various elements of said protective devicein one unitary group;

(b) a fixedly mounted motor located on said sled;

(c) a propeller type fan mounted forward of and connected for revolutionby said motor;

(d) at least one secondary frame pivotably secured to said sled forwardof said fan;

(e) an air directing louver unit removably secured to said secondaryframe on the end of said secondary frame nearest said fan and positionedin the air stream created by said fan and its motor;

(f) an oil burner secured to said secondary frame forward of itsrespective louver unit and positioned substantially centrallytransversely of the air stream and below the center of the samevertically of said stream and directed by the louver unit mounted on thesame secondary frame; and

(g) a fuel oil tank of substantial size fixedly mounted on said sledrearward of said motor and provided with supply lines, one of which isconnected to each of said burners by flexible means permitting theturning of the longitudinal axis of the burners with respect to saidtank.

8. A frost protective device for orchards, comprising:

(a) a sled for combining the various elements of said protective devicein one unitary group;

(b) a fixedly mounted motor located on said sled;

(c) a propeller type fan mounted forward of and connected for revolutionby said motor;

(d) a pair of secondary frames pivotably secured to said sled forward ofsaid fan in generally side-by-side relationship;

(e) an air directing louver unit removably secured to each of saidsecondary frames on the end of said secondary frames nearest said fanand positioned in the air stream created by said fan and its revolvingmotor;

(f) an oil burner secured to each of said secondary frames forward ofits respective louver unit and positioned substantially centrally of theair stream directed by the louver unit mounted on the same secondaryframe;

(g) said oil burners having a cylindrical flame projecting tube, atruncated cone peripherally secured in one end of said tube with itssmall end extending into said tube, said cone having a plurality of airsupply openings in its surface; and

(h) a fuel oil tank of substantial size fixedly mounted on said sledrearward of said motor and provided with supply lines, one of which isconnected to each of said burners by flexible means permitting theturning of the longitudinal axis of the burners with respect to saidtank.

(Other references on following page) UNITED 7 STATES PATENTS Cummings.Gars.

Taber 472 Daugherty 43148 Sanderson 47---2 Fowler 47-2 Fetrow 47--2Fowler 472 Gubelin 239-77 X Glatfelter 239-77 Martin 472 Lindsay 47---28 FOREIGN PATENTS 5 Chavernac, F.: Preservation des Geles Printanieres.In 1e Progres Agricole et Viticole (France) vol. 55, No. 7, pages 211,212, 123, Feb. 12, 1911.

Gesellschaft fur Elektrische: German application 1,012,109. Printed July11, 1957 (45 P 11/03).

10 ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primar Examiner.

T. GRAHAM CRAVER, Examiner.

8. A FROST PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR ORCHARDS, COMPRISING: (A) A SLED FOR COMBINING THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF SAID PROTECTIVE DEVICE IS ONE UNITARY GROUP; (B) A FIXEDLY MOUNTED MOTOR LOCATED ON SAID SLED; (C) A PROPELLER TYPE FAN MOUNTED FORWARD OF AND CONNECTED FOR REVOLUTION BY SAID MOTOR; (D) A PAIR OF SECONDARY FRAMES PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID SLED FORWARD OF SAID FAN IN GENERALLY SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATIONSHIP; (E) AN AIR DIRECTING LOUVER UNIT REMOVABLY SECURED TO EACH OF SAID SECONDARY FRAMES ON THE END OF SAID SECONDARY FRAMES NEAREST SAID FAN AND POSITIONED IN THE AIR STREAM CREATED BY SAID FAN AND ITS REVOLVING MOTOR; (F) AN OIL BURNER SECURED TO EACH OF SAID SECONDARY FRAMES FORWARD OF ITS RESPECTIVE LOUVER UNIT AND POSITIONED SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY OF THE AIR STREAM DIRECTED BY THE LOUVER UNIT MOUNTED ON THE SAME SECONDARY FRAME; (G) SAID OIL BURNERS HAVING A CYLINDRICAL FLAME PROJECTING TUBE, A TRUNCATED CONE PERIPHERALLY SECURED IN ONE END OF SAID TUBE WITH ITS SMALL END EXTENDING INTO SAID TUBE, SAID CONE HAVING A PLURALITY OF AIR SUPPLY OPENINGS IN ITS SURFACE; AND (H) A FUEL OIL TANK OF SUBSTANTIAL SIZE FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID SLED REARWARD OF SAID MOTOR AND PROVIDED WITH SUPPLY LINES, ONE OF WHICH IS CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID BURNERS BY FLEXIBLE MEANS PERMITTING THE TURNING OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE BURNERS WITH RESPECT TO SAID TANK. 